My Big Escapade - Destination Unknown...: Day 84 - May 31

May31 at EveryTrail

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It snow time today. The weather looks pretty bad and at the altitude we are on it does not rain but snows. I had my doubts, but the group with no second thoughts geared up for the snow trek for the day. The groups guide Gailu suggested to stick with the group as the visibility was very lil and i may get lost. In snow some times it gets confusing to the guides themselves sometimes it seems. Well thats a great idea and walk with the group with skepticism as they had passed me the previous day. The group was kinda fast for me. With ever step we gradually gain the altitude and the breathing is harder. Nothing much to see around but the snow and the colorful rain gear people around wearing. We walk in the never ending snow blizzard in a line and reach Dukla in good 2 hours. I had really pushed myself with out my usual many resting stops, to keep up with the group. Every step was a battle for oxigen and the lungs working more harder.

After a food break at Dukla, its a climb now, supposed be the toughest climb in the route where you gain like 400 meters in a short time. It was on nothing but rocks. Now we climb among more and more snow and we are forced to put the goggles on. It was very bright and reflecting even if the sun was not visible! That was one tough work and hoped did not have to come back down after all this without going all the way. Could only imagine how snowed out the places near Gorakshep would be. After the climb its a couple of kms of gradual incline walk till Lobuche. By now i was exhausted and could not keep up with the group and let them go. It took my stops. It all looked fine if i am sitting but the moment i walk i had no energy at all. Did not feel tired of pain but just the as if the battery is dying. I sit there and looking ahead and behind with no body around and wondering what am i getting my self into or already have! pull out a snikker bar and hoped to get some energy. But there is no choice as well. Now i really start motivating myself saying stuff like 'you can make it' etc etc. After half an hour i see the Lobuche settlement to the left and boy am i relieved. I know its just the beginning. Not sure how i will react to the additional altitude gain. The Daimox which i started only a day back may not help. I was hungry for now and wanted to have food quickly before the stomach starts acting up like in Dingboche.

It was still snowing around most of the day. After lunch we were suggested to hike a 100 meters up the mountains beside the hotel, which would help in acclimatizing and sleep for the day. Though tired acclimatization takes priority and i join the people who are going on the hike. Again like in Dingboche it was a climb straight up. Couple of their porter sherpas run out to join us just in case we get lost. Haans the big man brings Henry's Altimeter so that we could track the altitude gain. After like 80 meters we hit the snow line and it was bit slippery with the mix of snow and mossy plants and soil. It felt it was a bit hairy as if we roll down we roll all the way as there was nothing to break the fall. Now i started using hands and envied the people who had brought the hiking sticks along. After spending few mins up there was time to get down. But now so easy, getting down seemed very very tricky and except a couple of people and the sherpas, rest including me were worried of rolling down. It was damn slippery. Dr Cissy was having real trouble walking down. I let the gloves get wet and take support from hands to negotiate my way down. After the snow line traction improved. Either snow or no snow is ok but with patches of snow on the soil it get tricky. Everyone makes it down safely and breath a sigh relief.

There's really nothing to do around here. All the people just gather around the fire stove for warmth in the dining hall and while away time. Battery charging is expensive like 350 Rs per hour! So my laptop runs out of power and becomes a dead weight now. Can save on spending from charging the camera batteries. We have early dinner like 7.30 and Gailu the guide call every out. What do we have here? A clear sky with start visible and all the mountains around too! Thats a good sign for tomm's trek weather. Try some night photography and now have a tough task of finding sleep. Man cant believe i made it this far and yup just one more day to the Base camp!

The walk in the snow fall begins...